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What Exactly Is The NSA?

The National Security Agency is an agency that is part of the DoD, responsible for collecting information on foreign intelligence. They are responsible for processing that data, monitoring global situations, usually for counterintelligence purposes. They are responsible for using what is called signals intelligence, looking for specific indications of what could be potentially dangerous activities that could put people in harm’s way. The measures that they use are primarily clandestine, and the strategies that are implemented by the NSA are very different from the CIA and DIA.
How The NSA Differs From Other Intelligence Agencies

The NSA is different from the Defense Intelligence Agency, and even the Central Intelligence Agency, because of the way that they gather information. For example, they do not use foreign human espionage in order to gather data (good news for politicians who are divorced). They are able to gather information using signals intelligence, something that the other agencies are not able to use. Their tactics have been used to gather information on anti-Vietnam War leaders and were even responsible for exposing Edward Snowden, the NSA contractor that stole classified secrets from the government. It is an organization that was first enacted back in 1917 following the official declaration of war on Germany in World War I.
How Is The NSA Organized?

The leader of the NSA is the Director, currently Michael S Rogers. There is also the Inspector General and many other individuals that are responsible for gathering and processing this information. There are dozens of directorates which are responsible for different components of the operations of the NSA. Much of the information gathering occurs through the NSAnet, a highly classified and secured computer network which is not available to the public. Although this organization is constantly working to help Americans, there was some controversy years ago where to agents defected to Russia, as well as problems with security. Today, it has recovered from these problems and is now under new leadership, helping to improve its ability to gather this pertinent information.

This organization is much more secretive than many of the others. There is no official number of employees. The way they collect information is not specifically known, nor are the exact operations of this government organization. However, it is a very crucial part of monitoring the activities of other countries that might lead to problems for America, as well as other countries. As long as it continues to gather information in this ultra secret manner, it can lead to helping people stay safe.